Micah 2:6

6 Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.

Micah 2:6 Meaning and Commentary

Micah 2:6

Prophesy ye not, [say they to them that] prophesy
Or "drop not" F8; such terrible words, such menacing things; let them not flow from your lips with such profusion and abundance; cease from speaking in the name of the Lord, if we can hear nothing else but sharp reproofs, and severe judgments: or the first word respects the true prophets of the Lord, and forbids their prophesying; and, according to others, the next should be rendered, "let them prophesy", or "drop" {i}; that is, the false prophets, that prophesy smooth things; and so the sense is, let the one prophesy, but not the other: they shall not prophesy to them;
these are the words of the Lord, in answer to the other, that since they did not like his prophets, their should no more be sent to, them, nor should drop or distil the rain of doctrine upon them; but, as a judgment upon them, should be deprived of them: or, "they shall not prophesy according to these" F11; as the false prophets do, not such things as they; or the whole may be rendered thus, "prophesy not", or, "if they prophesy, let them not prophesy as these" F12; such things as these; namely, [that] shame shall not overtake them;
that is, as the false prophets, who said that shame and confusion should not come upon the people of Israel, or the wrath denounced against them, but they should enjoy great peace and prosperity: but the first sense seems best, and the meaning of this clause to be, that the true prophets of the Lord should not prophesy any more to this people, since they did not choose they should: "that shame might not come upon them"; that the prophets might not be treated by them in a shameful and ignominious manner: or, as others, "shame shall not depart from them" F13; though they think to escape it by forbidding the prophets prophesying terrible things to come, yet confusion will be their portion at last.


FOOTNOTES:

F8 (wpyjt la) "ne stilletis", Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius, Burkius, Junius & Tremellius; "ne stillatote", Piscator.
F9 (Nwpyjy) "stallent isti", Junius & Tremellius, Cocceius; "stillanto", Piscator.
F11 (hlal) "secundum istos", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
F12 "Ne vaticinemini, aut si vaticinentur ne talia vaticinentur", Castalio.
F13 (twmlk goy al) "non recedent ignominiae", De Dieu; "non retroageretur summa ignominia", Cocceius; "non recederet ignominia magna", Burkius.

Micah 2:6 In-Context

4 In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he hath divided our fields.
5 Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the LORD.
6 Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.
7 O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?
8 Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war.
The King James Version is in the public domain.